Texas was an independent nation from March 2, 1836, to Feb. 16, 1846, when it became the 28th state in the Union.
Sam Houston was chosen as president of the Republic of Texas, with his inauguration on Oct. 22, 1836. They applied for annexation to the United States and, as they say, the rest is history.
Let’s go back a few years – before 1836. There is a Fayette County connection here.

1989 – Bill Payne and Kendall Ray were named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of the Patoka Class of 1989.
Voters in the LaGrove and Kinmundy-Alma school districts approved the consolidation of their districts by a 3-1 margin.
Ed Hightower, a collegiate referee and school administrator from East Alton, was speaker at the VCHS athletic banquet.

This week’s Mystery Banks Photo: This young man, shown more than six decades ago, grew up in the Vandalia area and was part of a family of eight. He has three daughters and spends his winters in Florida.

1989 – Vandalia’s post-prom casino night was attended by about 100 students.
Queen and king of the VCHS prom were Melinda Sue Yarbrough and Gary Graumenz.
Brownstown Junior High School eighth grade boys track team tied with Peoria Pleasant Valley for the state title. Curtis Schwarm had two seconds and a third, and was a member of the second-place relay team.
Teachers retiring from the Vandalia District included Ellen Black, Jessie Mae Halbrook, Elizabeth Molett, Marjorie Blythe May, Melvin Donnelley and Eli Hefron.

When I was in junior high, I was a member of the American Legion Junior Auxiliary that met one Saturday a month at the Crawford-Hale American Legion home in Vandalia. Our meetings were held in a room on the main floor that is now used for the military museum.